McDavid, MacKinnon Praise Tom Wilson, Glad He’s on Their Side

Tom Wilson making Team Canada’s Olympic roster didn’t come without questions. Is he really good enough to play alongside these superstars? Will he cross the line and lose his composure? While we’ve yet to see it in an elimination game where things truly tighten up and matter the most, he passed the preliminary round test with flying colors.

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Not only has his play warranted sticking on the top line with Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini, but he’s also brought his usual physicality without going too far. That included standing up for Nathan MacKinnon after the Colorado Avalanche superstar took a high hit late in Sunday’s 10-2 win over France — something MacKinnon greatly appreciated.

MacKinnon said:

“He elbowed me in the face, and I was nowhere near the puck. Yeah, appreciate it. Obviously, Tom is a good teammate, and I definitely appreciate him sticking up for me… Yeah, that guy obviously didn’t want to fight Tom. He just wanted to wrestle. I wouldn’t want to fight Tom either,”

The 31-year-old Wilson has tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in his first three games as an Olympian and, fittingly, ranks second among all players in penalty minutes with 27.

Connor McDavid Also Spoke Highly of Tom Wilson

MacKinnon wasn’t the only one to show appreciation for Wilson defending his Canadian teammates. The best player in the world took notice and didn’t hesitate to praise him.

McDavid said:

“We didn’t like the hit. Felt like it was late and high. Willy just finishes a check and the guy jumps him, and Willy’s just protecting himself. That’s all he can do. That’s the type of guy he is, type of teammate he is. Nothing but respect for him,”

Very few players, if any, possess the combination of size, speed, skill, and the intimidation factor that Wilson brings, and it’s been on full display in Milan for the hockey world to see. It even seems to have brought out a more physical side in McDavid — something few expected — as he’s delivered several Richter-scale hits so far this tournament.

Whether fans like him or not, they can’t deny Wilson’s impact. For the Oilers in particular, seeing how much space he creates for McDavid should have them searching for a player with similar abilities moving forward — though that will be far easier said than done, because not many are like him.

Next: Oilers Seen as Possible Landing Spot for Maple Leafs Defenseman